Terry Jones
Biography
Terry Jones was a Welsh actor, comedian, director, historian and writer who became known as a member of Monty Python. Born in Colwyn Bay, Wales, he studied English at Oxford, where he and Michael Palin took part in the Oxford Revue. They wrote and appeared in British comedy programs such as The Frost Report and Do Not Adjust Your Set, then Jones helped create Monty Python's Flying Circus with Palin, Graham Chapman, John Cleese, Eric Idle and Terry Gilliam. He shaped the show's surreal sketch structure and later co-directed Monty Python and the Holy Grail (1975) with Gilliam, then directed Life of Brian (1979), followed by The Meaning of Life (1983). His other directing work included Erik the Viking (1989), The Wind in the Willows (1996) and Absolutely Anything (2015). He co-wrote Ripping Yarns, wrote on medieval history, and received a BAFTA Cymru Lifetime Achievement award in 2016. He died in 2020.
77years old at death
- Born Colwyn Bay
- Died London
- Star sign: AquariusThe sign runs January 20 to February 18
- Terence Graham Parry Jones (birth name)
Movie Career
- Films
- 14
- Career span
- 44 years1971 to 2015
Genres
Share
Did you know?!
A change of course
Jones co-founded the Penrhos Brewery, a microbrewery in Herefordshire, with Peter Austin and Richard Boston in 1977; it operated until 1983.
Behind the camera
Terry Jones wrote the screenplay for Labyrinth, the 1986 film, but before it was filmed his draft was rewritten by several other writers, so much of what ended up on screen was not his work.
Behind the camera
Jones wrote the libretto and directed Evil Machines, an opera, in 2008. In 2011 he was hired to write the libretto and direct a second opera, The Doctor's Tale.
Behind the camera
Jones's first book, Chaucer's Knight: The Portrait of a Medieval Mercenary, appeared in 1980. In it he presents a different reading of Geoffrey Chaucer's The Knight's Tale.
Terry Jones movies on Netflix
Best known for
The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.
- Monty Python and the Holy Grail1975 Adventure, Comedy, Fantasyas Dennis's Mother / Sir Bedevere / Left Head / Prince Herbert / Cartoon Scribevoice
IMDb rating 8.1608K votes
- Life of Brian1979 Comedyas Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant
IMDb rating 8.0436K votes
- The Meaning of Life1983as Bert / Fish #6 / Mum / Priest / Biggs / Sergeant / Man with Bendy Arms / Mrs. Brown / Mr. Creosote / Maria / Leaf Father / Fiona Portland-Smythe
IMDb rating 7.5131K votes
- And Now for Something Completely Different1971as Stage Manager / Tobacconist / 2nd Hungarian Man / Squire / Self-defence student #3 / Tenant #1 / Flasher / Mouse Organist Ken Ewing / Fat Soldier / Waiter / Nude Organist / Brian / Nigel Incubator Jones
IMDb rating 7.533K votes
Most often with
Terry Gilliam directed three of these films, Ian MacNaughton two and Aubrey Powell two. Michael Palin appears in eleven of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.
Films together
Michael Palin's page
John Cleese's page
Terry Gilliam's page
Eric Idle's page
Carol Cleveland's page
Graham Chapman's page
All films by Ian MacNaughton
Aubrey PowellDirector, 2 films, 2010 to 2014
All films by Aubrey Powell
Box office
What Terry Jones's films earned in cinemas worldwide.
Combined worldwide box office
$80.7 million
9 of the 14 films have a worldwide figure.
Of the 14 films: 9 worldwide figure; 1 us gross only; 4 figure not found.
- 9Worldwide figure
- 1US gross only
- 4Figure not found
Highest grossing
The eight biggest films earned 100% of the total. The bars are drawn to scale.
- 1The Meaning of Life1983as Bert / Fish #6 / Mum / Priest / Biggs / Sergeant / Man with Bendy Arms / Mrs. Brown / Mr. Creosote / Maria / Leaf Father / Fiona Portland-Smythe$43M53.0% of the total
- 2Life of Brian1979as Mandy Cohen / Colin / Simon the Holy Man / Bob Hoskins / Saintly Passer-by / Alarmed Crucifixion Assistant$21M25.8% of the total
- 3$6.3M7.8% of the total
- 4Monty Python and the Holy Grail1975as Dennis's Mother / Sir Bedevere / Left Head / Prince Herbert / Cartoon Scribe (voice)$5.8M7.1% of the total
- 5$2.3M2.8% of the total
- 6$1.9M2.4% of the total
- 7$490K0.6% of the total
- 8$328K0.4% of the total
$7,000from the other 1 film with a worldwide figure, 0% of the total
Awards
Four awards and honors from 2001 to 2015.
| Year | Award | Film | Result |
|---|---|---|---|
| Other honors | |||
| 2015 | Time Machine Award | Won | |
| 2004 | Annual award ACFK | Won | |
| 2001 | European Film Academy Lifetime Achievement Award | Won | |
| Children's Book Award (UK) | Won | ||
Online
Official profiles and reference pages.